Your quality of life in America

[Marilyn. 340]

when I lived in the UK I was able to appreciate alot of things.

1.. round a bouts.

2.. Mr Wippy Ice cream with the flake in there.

3.. decent cider.

4. branstion pickle

5. Picked onions!

6.. PG tips

but, the good thing about being here is - I can go next door to the store. guess what there is a whole isle of british products!!!

it is not just about food though...

we have to give up our whole life and move to a completely different country, leaving everyone one we know behind.... that is a big adjustment to make

I had to give up my life and move to the UK. at the time I was only 21. I did not know nothing about nothing

I had to learn about the UK life. I moved to the UK did not know anyone there. my ex at the time was busy flying to other countries on missions.

yeah, and I am sure that was a big adjustment to make

[Peggy 1]

my husband is from Pakistan. I dont think he will have any problems adjusting here.

Shon, I don't doubt that for a second

I do. I dont care who you are or where you come from. When you move to another Country there is going to be things to adjust to. Whether its the food, the water, jobs, money, new in-laws, different languages, there is so many different things. If her man can do this with out saying one negative thing well all the more power to him.

I just dont think its possible to come here and not miss something from your home.

Noone on here is bashing the USA. There saying what they miss about home, there is a difference.

Some people just think they know it all. Negative people are everywhere.

[Marilyn. 340]

my husband is from Pakistan. I dont think he will have any problems adjusting here.

Shon, I don't doubt that for a second

I do. I dont care who you are or where you come from. When you move to another Country there is going to be things to adjust to. Whether its the food, the water, jobs, money, new in-laws, different languages, there is so many different things. If her man can do this with out saying one negative thing well all the more power to him.

I just dont think its possible to come here and not miss something from your home.

Noone on here is bashing the USA. There saying what they miss about home, there is a difference.

Some people just think they know it all. Negative people are everywhere.

[Sister Fracas 5]

I do. I dont care who you are or where you come from. When you move to another Country there is going to be things to adjust to. Whether its the food, the water, jobs, money, new in-laws, different languages, there is so many different things. If her man can do this with out saying one negative thing well all the more power to him.

I just dont think its possible to come here and not miss something from your home.

Noone on here is bashing the USA. There saying what they miss about home, there is a difference.

Some people just think they know it all. Negative people are everywhere.

I agree, and maybe Shon's husband will have to adjust more than she thinks...but what is also important is the outlook you have about changes that makes the difference in how good or bad a time you have of the adjustment period. Some people can have a rougher time of it, yet take things more in stride. For others it's harder... not right or wrong, just different.

Edited March 21, 2006 by Frances

[Satellite 1]

I make $7.40 an hour here for a stupid manufacturing job. I have to wait a year for my first review and then might be considered for a raise of, get this, 2%...David is a supervisor and doesn't even make $12 an hour. He was supposed to get his yearly raise and his "supervisor out of training" raise months ago. They cut our hours down to 32h a week and I don't qualify for unemployment benefits...

Minimum wage here is 5.50 per hr. I haven't worked for 5.50 an hr since I was 18!! I'm 44 now! Most office jobs pay 7.50 to 10 at the most. Thats a HUGE drop for me...

I'm with Lily on the job situation although minimum wage here is $5.15 an hour. I have an interview with a state agency tomorrow afternoon and the wage is $7.41 an hour plus benefits...The best I can ever hope to make for all of my experience and skills is $10 an hour. It's hard for me to get over that this is a major step backward from what I was making before.

In Germany, i had a good job, all my friends/family and my own money.

here I don't have my EAD, if I did, they don't accept my degree so I won't be able to work in my field...

My response to all these economic complaints about the US is twofold and it applies both to USCs and immigrants. The US is a land of opportunities. If you don't like your job or how much you are making, do something about it. Go to school part time, improve or change your skills, get experience, and make yourself more presentable to employers who will give you the job you enjoy and a wage you can live off. There is no excuse to complain about your situation. Don't expect the US government to force private employers to pay a "living wage" as they do in Western Europe, Canada, and Australia. We have capitalist and market economy. Go to jobs where the demand for workers is high and you will reap the benefits of our market economy. There is no social net to help people out, but there are plenty of opportunities to move up the economic ladder. All you have to do is find the desire and will power to make more of yourself.

Edited March 21, 2006 by Satellite

[Cassie 8]

UK and CAN nationals think life is soo hard here!!!! instead of being thankful being able to live with your spouses, being able to make plans with your USA extended family. yall rather moan, groan and compair!!!

Please read my post, and you will see nothing of the sort. I never said life here was hard, it's DIFFERENT, and some of the differences are more easier to swallow than others. Stop reading into posts things you want to believe.

And Satellite, I am not sure if I want to shake you or not bother commenting on what you posted. Frankly, it's offensive to me to be told "All you have to do is find the desire and will power to make more of yourself." I worked my butt off to get my degree, to get my credentials, and my experience, and it's frustrating to no end to not even be considered for jobs because of where those credentials/experience/degree were earned, or have them not recognized for their full value. I do not expect to have everything handed to me on a silver platter, but I DO expect some equal consideration, which I haven't been getting. It's a legitimate complaint.

[Kajikit 65]

I have also lived in other countries. It would be a fact to say that my standard of living was best in Japan. That doesn't mean that Japan is the best country I have ever lived in, merely just that I made a lot of money there.

Not picking on you personally...honestly...I'm not, cuz I think your attitude is positive. But another question I have for anyone who has it worse is...IF this thread was about quality of life, how does that equate economic standard of living? It seems one of the biggest problem is that people don't have enough or can't make enough money. Is that what quality of life is all about?

Just pondering.........

Money isn't everything but it sure helps... it has a big impact on quality of life - not having enough money in the US means worrying about how you'll pay the rent, coping with the ever-increasing gas prices and the ever-increasing prices in general because you happen to live in an area that has become popular with the rich and the poor are being shoved out into the cold. Worrying about what will happen if somebody gets sick because you can't afford health insurance and you're not eligible for public assistance as an immigrant. Worrying about what happens if your spouse gets laid off again and you don't have any financial reserves to fall back on. No money for vacations or eating out or outings or new clothes. Maybe no money for food at all some weeks. Worrying about how you'll cope until you're allowed to work, and then until you manage to find a job. Worrying about whether your casual/part-time/contract job will give you enough hours to pay the rent this month. Worrying about how to support an extra mouth should the female partner fall pregnant because you couldn't afford birth control. Worrying about what will happen when your rattletrap old car finally quits running.

We're not poor and my husband has a good job and no we don't have all those worries - just some of them - but it's not easy...

[Garfield fan 0]

My response to all these economic complaints about the US is twofold and it applies both to USCs and immigrants. The US is a land of opportunities. If you don't like your job or how much you are making, do something about it. Go to school part time, improve or change your skills, get experience, and make yourself more presentable to employers who will give you the job you enjoy and a wage you can live off. There is no excuse to complain about your situation. Don't expect the US government to force private employers to pay a "living wage" as they do in Western Europe, Canada, and Australia. We have capitalist and market economy. Go to jobs where the demand for workers is high and you will reap the benefits of our market economy. There is no social net to help people out, but there are plenty of opportunities to move up the economic ladder. All you have to do is find the desire and will power to make more of yourself.

Agree. Speaking from my own experience, I think the quality of life here and back home are the same. The US is a much more "advanced" and "sophisticated" country compare to my homeland, but I am also facing problems in finding the "perfect" job like the one I did back home. With my salary back home, I had relatively better standard of living at my home country: I lived in nice apartment with security guard, had maid, had company car, etc. But I love my hubby and we decided that I would move to US, so once I made that decision, I strive to go through it, never look back or make any comparisons.

For me, now I live in US, this is where my family lives, so this is where I belong. What I had before that is not relevant anymore right now. Now I have the man I love with me under the same roof, I have new friends and I enjoy all the adventures that lives bring to me. I can experience the "modern" USA, with all the fancy things they have here that we don't have back home. I still working to get the "perfect" job, but cannot complain to what my husband and I have together right now.

[Satellite 1]

I worked my butt off to get my degree, to get my credentials, and my experience, and it's frustrating to no end to not even be considered for jobs because of where those credentials/experience/degree were earned, or have them not recognized for their full value.

I understand and sympathize with you about this. But you shouldn't be offended by my comments about desire and will. You know you are not getting full consideration for you hard work, that is why it is going to require more desire and will to get American experience and maybe take a few more classes to get what employers require. To sit around and complain, even if it is a legitimate complaint isn't going to help bring money to the home.

Worrying about how to support an extra mouth should the female partner fall pregnant because you couldn't afford birth control.

Of all the things to worry about, this should not be an issue.

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/

Planned Parenthood above will provide you with free birth control assuming you are indeed too poor to afford any. Take advantage of all the state services available to you. There are only a few limited federal funds under the the I-864 which you cannot use without placing a worry on your immigration sponsor(s).

Edited March 22, 2006 by Satellite

[ktun 0]

Money isn't everything but it sure helps... it has a big impact on quality of life - not having enough money in the US means worrying about how you'll pay the rent, coping with the ever-increasing gas prices and the ever-increasing prices in general because you happen to live in an area that has become popular with the rich and the poor are being shoved out into the cold. Worrying about what will happen if somebody gets sick because you can't afford health insurance and you're not eligible for public assistance as an immigrant. Worrying about what happens if your spouse gets laid off again and you don't have any financial reserves to fall back on. No money for vacations or eating out or outings or new clothes. Maybe no money for food at all some weeks. Worrying about how you'll cope until you're allowed to work, and then until you manage to find a job. Worrying about whether your casual/part-time/contract job will give you enough hours to pay the rent this month. Worrying about how to support an extra mouth should the female partner fall pregnant because you couldn't afford birth control. Worrying about what will happen when your rattletrap old car finally quits running.

We're not poor and my husband has a good job and no we don't have all those worries - just some of them - but it's not easy...

Try living off $400 a month and see what quality of life you have then!! Yes, money is very important to quality of life. I'm not talking about having 3 cars, a big house, eating out, new clothes. I'm talking about the very basics of survival in this country. If our old year old car stops running, we're in trouble. We live somewhere there is no public transport and my husband is having regular surgeries and phyisical therapy. Geez we had to say 'No' at the pharmacy the other day because a medication cost $70 and we just did not have the money for it. We had to make the decision, do we buy the med this week, or do we buy groceries and pay the heat bill?

I dont consider having to choose between necesities like that a good quality of life.

I would love to jump into the land of opportunity and get me a job, but ya know what? My EAD hasn't come yet, I CANT at this point in time make things better for us. I feel crippled by the medical expenses in this country, and this is with my husband having excellent insurance coverage. But when households only major breadwinner cannot work, life is very very hard, and very very depressing.

Money may not be the most important thing in the world when you have enough to live off, but when you're literally searching the bottom of your purse for coins it suddenly seems much more important.

[babybunny 2]

I do. I dont care who you are or where you come from. When you move to another Country there is going to be things to adjust to. Whether its the food, the water, jobs, money, new in-laws, different languages, there is so many different things. If her man can do this with out saying one negative thing well all the more power to him.

I just dont think its possible to come here and not miss something from your home.

Noone on here is bashing the USA. There saying what they miss about home, there is a difference.

Some people just think they know it all. Negative people are everywhere.

I agree, and maybe Shon's husband will have to adjust more than she thinks...but what is also important is the outlook you have about changes that makes the difference in how good or bad a time you have of the adjustment period. Some people can have a rougher time of it, yet take things more in stride. For others it's harder... not right or wrong, just different.

Not really. here is the Edge. My husband has full flight benifits because, I work for an airline

so if he wants to visit his family no problem!

[ktun 0]

I agree, and maybe Shon's husband will have to adjust more than she thinks...but what is also important is the outlook you have about changes that makes the difference in how good or bad a time you have of the adjustment period. Some people can have a rougher time of it, yet take things more in stride. For others it's harder... not right or wrong, just different.

Not really. here is the Edge. My husband has full flight benifits because, I work for an airline

so if he wants to visit his family no problem!

Well, aren't you the lucky one then. Unfortunately, the majority of us don't have Full Flight Benefits.

[girl 37 7]

Not really. here is the Edge. My husband has full flight benifits because, I work for an airline

so if he wants to visit his family no problem!

And if he gets a job and can't get time off work?

I can't believe how defensive you are! The fact is, the US does not have the highest standard of living in the world. And people miss their families, friends, and even things like public transportation, recycling programs, and the climate of their home countries. What's wrong with admitting that??

[raphael7546 0]

I make $7.40 an hour here for a stupid manufacturing job. I have to wait a year for my first review and then might be considered for a raise of, get this, 2%...David is a supervisor and doesn't even make $12 an hour. He was supposed to get his yearly raise and his "supervisor out of training" raise months ago. They cut our hours down to 32h a week and I don't qualify for unemployment benefits...

Minimum wage here is 5.50 per hr. I haven't worked for 5.50 an hr since I was 18!! I'm 44 now! Most office jobs pay 7.50 to 10 at the most. Thats a HUGE drop for me...

I'm with Lily on the job situation although minimum wage here is $5.15 an hour. I have an interview with a state agency tomorrow afternoon and the wage is $7.41 an hour plus benefits...The best I can ever hope to make for all of my experience and skills is $10 an hour. It's hard for me to get over that this is a major step backward from what I was making before.

In Germany, i had a good job, all my friends/family and my own money.

here I don't have my EAD, if I did, they don't accept my degree so I won't be able to work in my field...

My response to all these economic complaints about the US is twofold and it applies both to USCs and immigrants. The US is a land of opportunities. If you don't like your job or how much you are making, do something about it. Go to school part time, improve or change your skills, get experience, and make yourself more presentable to employers who will give you the job you enjoy and a wage you can live off. There is no excuse to complain about your situation. Don't expect the US government to force private employers to pay a "living wage" as they do in Western Europe, Canada, and Australia. We have capitalist and market economy. Go to jobs where the demand for workers is high and you will reap the benefits of our market economy. There is no social net to help people out, but there are plenty of opportunities to move up the economic ladder. All you have to do is find the desire and will power to make more of yourself.

I have 3 Degrees I don't need to go back to school . I am more then qualified to work here in some low paying dumbass job.

[jen&darcy 0]

I am not even going to post about the ongoing battle on this thread because I would probably say something really mean.

My fiance isn't here yet but he does have some adjusting. The major thing for him is dealing with our health care here. He knows how much I pay for myself and my girls and he is floored everytime. However, there are pros and cons to that situation too.

He has a job waiting for him when he gets here. His profession is very much in demand here (truck driver).

He too will be leaving all his friends but with many moves he has had over the past couple of years in Canada, he has already been distanced from them.

He isn't very close with his family so that really won't be an issue.

As far as the small town syndrome, I live in a town of about 19,000 people. When he first visited me he was quite surprised I was in an apartment complex in a corn field. You can't go across the street to the 7-11. He too is used to the city life but likes where we will reside.

I remember just moving between states. It is very different just moving from state to state not alone country to country.

I commend everybody who is willing to give up virtually everything to immigrate here.

Okay, I will get off my soap box!